Thursday, July 7, 2011

I teach classes out of my studio and the photo set up was still out when the students arrived on Tuesday. Thank goodness is was because I was able to get a fresh eye from one of the students. Gayle suggested I use the dark cloth that I had rather than buying yet another darker photo paper roll. The cloth worked for the backdrop.

This image of the new work is very close to the actual glaze color on the surface of the vase. There are so many levels of trial and error when working with clay. I hope that anyone taking the time to read this blog can get a better idea of what is involved with this profession. So, the next time you think that the price of a clay object is to expensive, think again. The time that is involved in getting a lump of clay to a finished and refined work of art or fine craft (whichever you prefer) is longer than you think. Knowing about and understanding this creative process is a great asset to an individual and to a society.

The creative process strengthens the ability to see how actions could possibly unfold. The ability to think this way for the greater good is crucial for a society to flourish and prosper long term.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

The past few days were spent taking images of work inside under various lights and outside under various camera settings. After buying a new backdrop and changing the white balance settings on my camera, I finally bought new photo blue bulbs which balanced the overbearing and dominant blue color my camera kept picking up. Yikes! The only obvious new variable was this new glaze.

Compare the mug image from the last post to this image and you will see the difference. The only problem is the glaze color is closer to the "real thing" in the dominant blue image.

Friday, July 1, 2011

The last kiln firing was spectacular mostly due to a new glaze I am working with. The glaze is a bit of a celedon and you can just look forever into the glaze and not see the bottom. The glaze is very difficult to "photograph" so I may need to go see Dan Milner who takes amazing images of objects.

This is the first time I did the chemistry for a new base glaze recipe that worked. These recipes are generously handed down to those who wish to explore and study the field of ceramics. Before, I mostly would experiment with only the additions to the base glazes to alter color and transparency. At this point, I am feeling a bit selfish with the recipe for this glaze.

Glazes are tricky and they need to fit a clay body properly or else the glaze can do all those things like crawl and craze. Since I do so much wax resist on the surface of an object to create pattern, the glaze can be a bit problematic. Sometimes, the glaze can be too powdery causing the brush full of wax to struggle and pull rather than glide on the surface of the form. Not this new glaze, the brush danced across the surface. I do hope that this glaze continues to behave. Their are so many variables such as humidity in the air that cause a glaze to react a certain way. Only time will tell.

About Me

An Ohio artist working primarily in clay and educator.
Graduate of Lakeland Community College, Kirtland Ohio.
B.A. Cleveland State University, 1987. M.F.A. Kent State University,1997.
I love clay. I began working with clay in 1977. My first official teaching experience started at Clayworks, a private ceramics studio, in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Since then, I have taught as adjunct faculty in various colleges, art schools, community centers and retirement communities. I have exhibited my work at the American Craft Council Shows, the Ohio Craft Museum, the Functional Ceramics exhibition in Wooster, Ohio, Lillstreet in Chicago, Illinois, Chautauqua Crafts Alliance in New York and many other wonderful venues too numerous to list.